Modulation of cholesterol-related sterols during Eimeria bovis macromeront formation and impact of selected oxysterols on parasite development

Publication date: Available online 15 June 2018 Source:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Author(s): A. Taubert, L.M.R. Silva, Z.D. Velásquez, C. Larrazabal, D. Lütjohann, C. Hermosilla Obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasites are considered as deficient in cholesterol biosynthesis and scavenge cholesterol from their host cell in a parasite-specific manner. Compared to fast proliferating apicomplexan species producing low numbers of merozoites per host cell, (e. g. Toxoplasma gondii), the macromeront-forming protozoa Eimeria bovis is in extraordinary need for cholesterol for offspring production (≥ 170,000 merozoites I/macromeront). Interestingly, optimized in vitro E. bovis merozoite I production occurs under low foetal calf serum (FCS, 1.2%) supplementation. To analyze the impact of extensive E. bovis proliferation on host cellular sterol metabolism we here compared the sterol profiles of E. bovis-infected primary endothelial host cells grown under optimized (1.2% FCS) and non-optimized (10% FCS) cell culture conditions. Therefore, several sterols indicating endogenous de novo cholesterol synthesis, cholesterol conversion and sterol-uptake (phytosterols) were analyzed via GC-MS-based approaches. Overall, significantly enhanced levels of phytosterols were detected in both FCS conditions indicating infection-triggered sterol-up-take from extracellular sources as a major pathway of sterol acquisition. Interestingly, a simultaneous induction of endogenous c...
Source: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research